Then Feed Just One Food Makes a Difference

It is with a heavy heart that I write tonight’s blog. Unfortunately, Bruce and Alex must return home early so they can be with their dad/grandpa, who is really missing them. We all agree that they should return, but we’ll really miss them.

Pancakes for breakfast this morning and watermelon. As soon as we finished eating, we put everyone to work. Even though we were heading to Talanga at 8:30, we definitely didn’t want any of us sitting around too much. A few missioners treated the wood that is going to be used to build three picnic tables, and the remainder of the missioners carried sand down the mountainside in gunny sacks. Actually, they formed a line and passed the sacks down until they reached the Hondurans who carried it the rest of the way.

As stated earlier, we headed for Talanga – a two-hour trip – to visit the Feeding Center. While we were touring the facility, we discovered boxes of Then Feed Just One food. Excited, we examined the labels on the boxes. THEIR FOOD WAS FROM GEHLEN, SPALDING, AND EMMETSBURG!!! The children who were in the feeding program were possibly eating the food we packed last May. That was truly eye-opening for all of the missioners. Many of us commented on that at junta tonight. Many people mentioned that now that they’ve seen the food actually being eaten by children who were probably getting their only meal of the day, they know the importance of our packing event.

Lunch was peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, chips, and granola bars enroute to Nueva Capital from Talanga. Traveling today gave everyone the chance to experience Honduran driving at its best. No one has figured out the horn honking language of the Honduran drivers. I think you have to be a native Honduran to understand it. Sofia, Marta’s oldest daughter, ate her very first peanut butter & jelly sandwich while with us today and said it actually wasn’t that bad.

As soon as we returned to the compound, we all went to work moving sand and gravel down the mountainside. The people here are building a grand chicken coop toward the back of the compound. They were slowly moving a bit of sand and gravel each day, so we told them we’d make sure the pile was moved for them. They were extremely grateful.

After a supper of pupusas (corn tortillas surrounding melted cheese and a pinch of pork paste, I think, and grilled; then you put shredded cabbage like slaw on top of it), Janet got out her guitar and we had a singalong. Tonight’s junta was thought-provoking. There were plenty of emotions after our experiences at the feeding center.

Actually, I think everyone is starting to get a little emotional because we all know our mission experience is drawing to a close. I’m also sure that some of the missioners are realizing they miss their families, though they might not admit it. I predict a bus full of tears when we leave this place.

Missioners’ blogs:

Emily Pratt- Hey mom and dad, everything is going great down here today. Going to the feeding center was quite an experience. The children there were really excited for us to be there today. I miss you guys. Shopping on Sunday was actually fun for me. I got you some great stuff. Tell Sally I miss her very much. Catherine, I hope all is going well at college, and I got a few things for you too. Tell Katie and Billy hi for me. To all of my friends, I hope you are having lots of fun at school and in the cold weather. It is very nice down here. See you all soon.

Megan Livermore: Hey family and other people! J All is well in Honduras, and I love hearing from all of you guys back home, makes part of my day! Honestly, not too excited about the weather everyone is talking about back home, but I cannot wait to see you guys! Kelsey, I miss hearing you make fun of me everyday too, but no worries because almost everyone down here is, so it’s like I never left! David, sorry to hear that posting on the blog is difficult for you, but I am beyond glad to know you are following our journey down here. It means a lot to know that all of you guys are following us, keeping up to date on our journey, and most of all praying for our group. Mom, Dad, the sibs and Kinnick: I miss you guys soooo very much and no worries, we will have plenty of stories and answers to share with you guys when we get back! This trip has been amazing so far! #omaha #yahoo

Jim and Michelle Klein: Hola to Mom/Mary, Matt, Nathan, and Emily. It was great to hear from you. We are glad Emily did great at volleyball. We are doing very well. It was fun playing with the kids at the feeding center in Talanga today. They asked us to play pato, pato, gansaje (duck, duck, goose), but they didn’t play by the same rules. We enjoyed the view as we traveled, but the driving was interesting. Emily, Dad is worried about getting his spot back. You’d better enjoy it while you can. We love and miss you and will see you soon.

Patrick (not Megan) Livermore:  Howdy.  This is my first blog so here I go.   Mother, Father, I am having a swell time down south of the border.  This might surprise you, but it is hot down here.  I miss all my family, including the runt.  Hope you guys are having fun back in God’s Country. Next topic.  Hello, Cecilia and such. I forgot you guys were still there.  I am curious if you guys accomplish anything in class. Time to go.  This has been PatRick on MH’s blog. Yahoo.  I’m out.

Adam Sitzmann: Hello to everybody that’s reading this, especially my family. It’s been a blast down here so far. I’m really missing everybody, and I am looking forward to sharing my experience when I get back. I’m missing everybody. I, for sure, haven’t been hungry so far. I also finally buckled down and ate some peanut butter, not the worst stuff ever. I also did read all of my English book down here during our siestas. See you all soon!

P.S. To Abby: Please clean off my golf clubs for when I get back on Saturday. I, for sure, am going golfing.

Carolyn Bickford: Tell Mya that I'll be over on Saturday to watch Frozen with her, and I'll give both Mya & Cayden a hug. Paige & Marshall, I'll Facetime with you on Saturday. Looking forward to talking & seeing all of you. I hope Pakka & Angel are okay. No one has given me any information on them, so I assume everything is going fine. I'll text Lyndsi in Atlanta, tell her that please.